Observation Morning

[PennyP]

Hi all, I have been given the chance (hopefully) of training as a Dispenser for a small community pharmacy and this morning, I went along to meet the pharmacist to observe what they do just to ensure that it is something I want to pursue. The pharmacist was on his own and was very busy and I felt very helpless and it was difficult for him to deal with my questions and for him to teach what was going on. As he would be my teacher in the pharmacy, I am not sure how he would be able to spend time with me and as I have never worked in a chemist/pharmacy before, I felt unable to help in any way. He is very keen to teach me but he is not sure how the time can be allocated. Is this the usual feeling on a induction morning? I may have the opportunity of going back later this week to work but not sure what I can do - apart from getting in the way and feeling useless. I really want to do the course and after some time looking for a placement, I feel I have been given a lucky chance but feel inadequate. OK every one has first day issues etc but I am sure it will all fall into place!

[dizzyb23]

Congratulations on your new job!!! You must be so excited...your Pharmacist will find a way to fit in the teaching sessions. Were there's a will there's a way. It may not be structured training as such but once you get used to the computer systems, the till and where everything is, you'll be fine. Try not to worry. Are there any other support staff??? Maybe they can help out with your orientation too!!! Lets us know how you get on...

[johnep]

And we are always here to help.
johnep

[hibernia]

The pharmacist probably didn't want to start barking instructions at you when you were only there to observe but once you start proper that is how it will be for a while - "hand me that", "count me those", "label that lot", "put way that order". Once you can do a few very basic tasks it will free up the pharmacist to show you the more complicated stuff.
Don't try to take everything in at once. You won't be in the way if you are prepared to dust, tidy, and check expiry dates while you watch what is going on around you. Don't forget to offer to make the tea (neither of you may get time to drink it but make some anyway!)
Have confidence, work hard and you'll be fine. The best of luck.

[dizzyb23]

Oh yes!!! Offering to make a cuppa is such a help. Am not being sarcastic here, I actually mean it. When everyone is running around like a bunch of headless chickens, a nice cup of tea is welcome.

[PennyP]

Thank you so much for all your helpful and comforting comments. I am going back for another observation session on Thursday when a dispensing assistant will be there along with the Pharmacist which will be a lot easier. Then I am going to do a couple of sessions on a Saturday morning to learn the computer and working in the actual shop side of the Chemist to learn the counter assistant side of things. Is the Buttercups course the same as the NPA course?

[johnep]

Much the same but more help and they post here.
johnep

[Defblade]

I reckon it takes a good 3 months for someone with a normal IQ who starts fresh to get to grips with the basics (if they're full-time. Part-time can take much longer). There's soooooo many things you just have to "know". Like lisinopril is stored under Z because it used to be called Zestril and there wasn't space to put it in the Ls. Talking of Ls, levothyroxine is under T 'cos they added the "levo" and there wasn't space under L.... and so on. These little things are different in every shop... as a locum pharmacist, I usually have 3 or 4 places to look for things before I give up and ask the girls..."Oh, we keep them over here!" "Why....?" "Don't know, that's just where they live...."

And talking of asking: if you don't know, if you're not sure, ASK!
The pharmacist won't (shouldn't...) mind. Except if you ask the same question three times or more we may start to get a little grumpy (once is good, twice obviously requires more time spent to make sure you understand properly, third time suggests you weren't paying attention the first 2 ).

Have fun!

[PennyP]

Thanks Defblade for those tips. I think learning the names of the drugs (both trade and generic) and where they are kept alphabetically obviously will take a while but I presume one of the jobs is checking the sell by dates on all packaging which also helps to establish where things are kept! Anyway I am grateful to you all for sharing your expereinces - wish me luck for tomorrow and thereafter and hope they will take me on permanently to do the course.

[dizzyb23]

Doing the date check will be a huge help for everyone.....one of those bread and butter jobs that tends to be put off at busy times. Good luck for tomorrow and have fun out there!!!!!